Amex Green for Military

The American Express Green Card® is an iconic rewards card that offers exceptional perks for frequent travelers, especially those in the military. With generous travel rewards, statement credits, and flexible redemption options, this card is an attractive option for active-duty servicemembers who qualify for waived annual fees under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Lending Act (MLA).

For military members who travel frequently, the Amex Green Card provides valuable benefits, including travel protections, rewards on transit and dining, and waived foreign transaction fees. Below, we explore why this is one of the best military credit cards, including key benefits, perks for military personnel and how to apply while ensuring fee waiver eligibility.

Related: Best Military Credit Cards for 2025

Amex Green Benefits for Military Travelers

The Amex Green Card’s perks can provide exceptional value for military members stationed abroad or within the U.S. Even retired veterans can benefit from the card’s reward structure and recurring perks. The card offers generous travel, transit, and dining rewards, along with an annual statement credit that offsets the $150 annual fee (ideal if you don’t qualify for the fee waiver). Here’s a closer look at the benefits you can expect with the Amex Green Card:

• Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in the first six months of card membership.
• 3X Membership Rewards Points on travel, transit, and dining purchases; 1X on all other eligible purchases.
• $199 CLEAR Plus Credit per year to help expedite airport security.
• Flexible redemption options, including 21 transfer partners with airlines and hotels.
• Comprehensive travel insurance, including trip delay, baggage insurance, rental car coverage, and access to the Global Assist hotline.
• Complimentary ShopRunner membership (valued at $79 per year).
• Access to bonus rewards and savings at select merchants is available via Amex Offers.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases originating abroad.

Welcome bonus

The Amex Green Card offers valuable incentives right out of the gate. The card’s welcome bonus consists of 40,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 in the first six months of card membership. You can redeem this bonus for travel, cash back, gift cards, and many other options. You’ll get about 0.5-1 cent per point in value. That makes the card’s 40,000-point welcome bonus worth $200-$400. 

The best option for redeeming Amex points is to transfer them to one of Amex’s 21 airline or hotel airline partners. Here are some ways you can redeem 40,000 Amex points via Amex transfer partners:

• Aer Lingus AerClub: Three one-way economy class tickets from the East Coast to Ireland (13,000 Avios each)
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: A round-trip economy class ticket from the mainland U.S. to the Caribbean (from 25,000 miles)
• British Airways Avios: A one-way economy class ticket to Japan (from 25,750 Avios)
• Singapore Krisflyer: A one-way business class ticket on United Airlines within the U.S. (26,000 miles each way)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Two round-trip economy class between the East Coast and the UK (20,000 miles each)

As you can see, transferring points can be a great way to maximize their value. You can get much more than $200-$400 out of your welcome offer by redeeming them for international flights using one of these transfer partners. 

Transferring Amex points to hotel partners isn’t always the best option. For example, Amex points transfer 1:1 to Marriott Bonvoy, where a free night ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 points or more. While the 1:2 transfer to Hilton Honors is slightly better, Hilton charges upwards of 125,000 points for a standard award night at a luxury hotel.

Transfers to Choice Privileges might be a good idea, with free nights starting at 6,000 points per night. When redeeming points, be sure to compare the transfer partner’s rates against the redemption required through Amex Travel. This way, you’ll get the best value and stretch your points further.

3X Membership Rewards Points on Travel, Transit, and Dining

The Amex Green Card’s reward structure is ideal for active-duty military members and veterans alike. The card offers elevated rewards on both travel and everyday spending categories. Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit, and restaurants worldwide. All other purchases earn 1 Amex point per dollar spent.

Military personnel who travel for assignments, training, or leisure will find the travel category especially rewarding. The bonus extends to airfare, hotels, tours, rental cars, cruises, vacation rentals and more. Transit includes trains, cabs, rideshare services, tolls, parking, and ferries. The dining category includes restaurants worldwide, making it an excellent choice for servicemembers stationed overseas. Within the U.S., the 3X dining bonus includes takeout and delivery services. 

If your spending habits fall within the Amex Green’s category bonuses, this could be a great card. If you can accrue lots of valuable rewards and maximize the card’s other perks, it can be worth holding onto long-term.

$199 CLEAR Plus Credit

The Amex Green Card offers a $199 annual statement credit for CLEAR Plus, a program that provides expedited security screening at major U.S. airports and stadiums. Since military members frequently travel for deployments, training, and assignments, this perk can make their airport experience much smoother.

Furthermore, if you ever leave the military or don’t requalify for a fee waiver, this benefit alone can offset the Amex Green Card’s $195 annual fee.

Travel Insurance and Protections

The Amex Green Card includes comprehensive travel protections that can provide peace of mind during deployments and leisure trips. Benefits include the following:

• Trip Delay Insurance: Reimbursement for up to $300 in expenses if a trip is delayed more than 12 hours. This benefit is restricted to two claims per card every 12 months. 
• Baggage Insurance Plan: Provides up to $1,250 in coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen carry-on luggage or up to $500 for checked bags. The benefit applies to luggage checked in on planes, trains, ships, or buses. 
• Rental Car Insurance: Secondary coverage for rental car damages in case of an accident or theft. This benefit only kicks in after your primary insurance rejects your claim. Coverage is not applicable in Australia, Italy, or New Zealand. You can upgrade to primary coverage through Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection program for $19.95-$24.95 per rental period.

No Foreign Transaction Fees for Deployed Servicemembers

Deployed military members and those stationed overseas won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees when using their Amex Green Card for purchases in other countries. Whether you’re on vacation or simply paying for household expenses while stationed abroad, an extra 3% fee can eat into your budget and offset the value of rewards earned. 

The Amex Green Card waives foreign transaction fees, ensuring you can earn rewards on all purchases without a penalty.

Related: Are credit card rewards and frequent flyer miles taxable?

Annual Fee Relief for Military (SCRA & MLA)

One of the most significant advantages for active-duty servicemembers is the ability to relieve the Amex Green Card’s $150 annual fee under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA). Both programs offer fee relief for active-duty military members and their dependents. While the MLA waiver is automatic for those who apply for a card while on active duty, the SCRA waiver can be requested if you obtained your card before starting active duty.

Here’s a closer look at each option and how to get your annual fees waived:

How to Request an Annual Fee Waiver Under MLA 

The MLA provides automatic fee waivers for credit cards opened while already on active duty. The fee waiver extends to both qualifying servicemembers and their dependents (including spouses). 

Simply apply for the card, list “military” as your occupation, and your information will be checked against the MLA database for a match. Your fee waiver will apply automatically once eligibility has been confirmed. American Express will run periodic checks to confirm ongoing eligibility, which can change if you’re no longer on active duty.

How to Request an Annual Fee Waiver Under SCRA

The SCRA protects active-duty military members by providing financial relief, including waived credit card fees and reduced interest rates on existing debt. 

If you apply for an Amex Green Card before active duty, you may qualify for a fee waiver under SCRA. Once approved, SCRA benefits apply from the start of active duty and extend up to 180 days after leaving. 

To get your Amex Green Card annual fee waived under SCRA, you’ll need to submit a request online or by calling Amex customer service at 1-800-253-1720.

Amex Green vs. Other Military-Friendly Travel Cards

While the Amex Green card is a great option for military members, it’s not the only card eligible for a fee waiver. Nor is it the best card option for everyone. Depending on your spending habits, you might be better off with a different Amex Card. 

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a popular option for servicemembers. Packed with luxury travel perks like airport lounge access and up to $1,500 in statement credits, it’s a great choice if you can waive the $695 annual fee. 

Those who prefer a card with elevated rewards and perks for everyday spending might appreciate the American Express® Gold Card. It offers bonus points on dining, groceries, and travel. It also comes with over $400 in annual statement credits toward travel and dining. 

All three cards waive foreign transaction fees, so you can continue earning rewards domestically and abroad without a penalty. Here’s a closer look at how the Amex Green compares to other travel Amex cards available for military personnel:

	Amex Green Card	Amex Platinum	Amex Gold Card
Normal Annual Fee	$150	$695	$295
Welcome bonus	Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership
Travel Rewards	3X points on travel and transit	5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel	3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel purchases booked through AmexTravel.com
Dining Rewards	3X points on dining worldwide	1X point	4X points on dining worldwide (up to $50,000 per year)
Other rewards		1X point on other purchases	4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year) 1X point on other purchases
Trusted Traveler Program Credits	$199 annual CLEAR credit	Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit every four years	None
Annual Credits	None	$240 digital entertainment credit annually $200 annual airline fee credits $200 annual  hotel credit $200 Uber Cash credit ($15-$25 per month) $199 CLEAR Plus credit $155 annual Walmart+ credit $120 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit every 4-5 years $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit annually	$120 annual Uber Cash $120 annual dining credit at participating restaurants $100 annual Resy credit  $84 annual Dunkin credit
Travel Perks	No foreign transaction fees	Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold status Access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection  Access to the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts  No foreign transaction fees	Access to Hotel Collection benefits through Amex Travel (up to $100 credit on two-night stays at participating hotels, plus other perks) No foreign transaction fees
Travel Protections	Trip delay insurance Baggage insurance  Secondary rental car insurance	Trip delay insurance Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Secondary rental car coverage	Baggage insurance plan Secondary rental car coverage

Related: Amex vs. Chase Trifecta: Which is Best for Military Members?

How to Apply for Amex Green

If you’re a military member looking to apply for the Amex Green Card, follow these steps to ensure you receive your SCRA/MLA benefits:

1. Check your eligibility for SCRA and MLA protections.
2. Apply for the card online through the American Express website.
3. Ensure automatic MLA enrollment if applying while on active duty.
4. Request SCRA benefits if you already had the card before joining active service.
5. Monitor your account to confirm that the Amex Green Card annual fee is waived. If not, call Amex customer service for assistance. 

Is Amex Green Right for You?

The Amex Green Card is a fantastic card for military members who frequently travel, dine out, and use public transit. The card provides exceptional value without added costs with 3X Membership Rewards points, travel perks, and a waived annual fee under SCRA and MLA. It can even be a sensible choice for those who leave the military, since the $150 annual fee is fairly reasonable compared to other Amex cards.

However, if you prefer higher-end travel perks and elevated rewards on travel spending, the Amex Platinum might be a better fit. The card has a larger welcome bonus than the Amex Green and offers up to 5X points on travel spending. With $400 in combined annual travel credits, it’s a great choice for those who want to save on travel while on active duty.  

On the other hand, if you prioritize earning rewards on everyday spending (and you’re stationed in the U.S.), the Amex Gold might be a better fit. Its spending categories and statement credits focus on dining and grocery spending, though it also offers valuable travel protections on the Amex Platinum Card.

When choosing between these cards, consider your spending habits, travel needs, and whether you’ll be primarily stationed in the U.S. or abroad. The great thing about Amex is that you can always product-change from an Amex Green to a Platinum or Gold (and vice versa). In fact, Amex sometimes issues bonus point incentives for doing so. This flexibility makes Amex a great choice for servicemembers looking for valuable rewards and waived annual fees.

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